Flexitarianism: A More Moral Dietary Option

Abstract

It is morally impossible to justify the power wielded by the livestock industry. This paper describes the human, ecological and animal welfare concerns caused by excessive meat production and consumption including climate change, water depletion and degradation, land misappropriation and degradation, rainforest destruction, biodiversity & rapid species loss and the significant threats and challenges presented to human health and wellbeing. It offers flexitarianism (flexible or part-time vegetarianism) as a personal opportunity and moral responsibility to combat the destructive duplicity of the global livestock megamachine. Through a personal nutritional paradigm shift and resulting food choices individuals can reclaim the possibility of a more sustainable world and global society.